El Nido in 5 days

Palawan's limestone cathedral: hidden lagoons, island-hopping tours A to D and the last light of the archipelago. Best time to visit: November-May. Average daily budget: $40 to $120 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: El Nido town (Buena Suerte), The main beachfront strip: tour offices, bars, restaurants and budget stays.

Morning: Tour A: Big and Small Lagoon. Kayak into the emerald Big Lagoon and squeeze through the crack into Small Lagoon.

Afternoon: Explore El Nido town (Buena Suerte), The main beachfront strip: tour offices, bars, restaurants and budget stays.

Evening: Sunset at Las Cabanas. A 15-minute ride south for the bay's best sunset, drink in hand.

Eat: Kinilaw: raw tuna cured in vinegar, calamansi, ginger and coconut

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Corong-Corong, Just south, quieter, with sunset views and better mid-range hotels.

Morning: Tour C: Hidden Beach and Matinloc. Secret Beach, Helicopter Island and the wildest limestone scenery in the bay.

Afternoon: Explore Corong-Corong, Just south, quieter, with sunset views and better mid-range hotels.

Evening: Nacpan Beach day. A long golden crescent with almost no development, an hour north.

Eat: Grilled tuna belly and squid at the beachfront barbecue stalls

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Las Cabanas, A short ride south for the best sunset beach and beach clubs.

Morning: Taraw Cliff's canopy walk at dawn for the whole bay from above town.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Las Cabanas, A short ride south for the best sunset beach and beach clubs.

Evening: Duli Beach for surf and near-empty sand beyond Nacpan.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Adobo and sinigang at the carinderias behind the main strip

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Nacpan Beach, Four kilometres of golden sand 45 minutes north, with low-key resorts.

Morning: The private-boat option, which lets you hit Big Lagoon before the group tours arrive.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Nacpan Beach, Four kilometres of golden sand 45 minutes north, with low-key resorts.

Evening: Kayaking to Cadlao Island from Corong-Corong on a calm morning.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Fresh calamansi juice and buko halo-halo after a boat day

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Lio Beach, The manicured resort enclave near the airport, calm and upmarket.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Lio Beach, then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Lio Beach, The manicured resort enclave near the airport, calm and upmarket.

Evening: Dinner at Kinilaw: raw tuna cured in vinegar, calamansi, ginger and coconut, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Lio Beach.

Eat: Kinilaw: raw tuna cured in vinegar, calamansi, ginger and coconut

Hidden gems

Taraw Cliff's canopy walk at dawn for the whole bay from above town.
Duli Beach for surf and near-empty sand beyond Nacpan.
The private-boat option, which lets you hit Big Lagoon before the group tours arrive.
Kayaking to Cadlao Island from Corong-Corong on a calm morning.

Getting around

Fly into Lio Airport (Aerodrome) for short hops from Manila or Cebu, or into Puerto Princesa and take a 5-6 hour van north. Fast ferries link El Nido and Coron in 4 to 5 hours. In town, tricycles handle every trip, with fixed rates to Las Cabanas, Nacpan and the airport. Island tours run daily from the town beach, with an environmental fee valid for 10 days.

Safety

The main risks are sea-related: heed cancellations in rough weather, wear the life vest and reef shoes, and never touch coral. Boats can be crowded, so keep valuables in a dry bag. Power cuts are common and ATMs run dry, so bring cash from Puerto Princesa or Manila. Typhoon season runs roughly July to October. Tap water is not drinkable; refill stations are widespread.

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